The anatomy of the first of two interceptions in Iowa State's spring game Saturday contained positive and negative elements, serving as a microcosm for the annual roughly two-hour exercise.

"We were in a field blitz," said Scott, a senior defensive end suspended from regular-season competition indefinitely because of a marijuana possession arrest this month. "I dropped to the boundary and basically kind of faked (Richardson) out a little bit, like I was going to run up to him. He threw it and I just stood there and caught it."

Scott — who Coach Paul Rhoads has said Scott is in line to possibly miss the Aug. 31 season opener against Northern Iowa — did more than stand there. He tight-roped the sideline before coming down with the first-quarter pick, which evidenced a combination of savvy and athleticism Rhoads said is building.

"A great interception," Rhoads said. "I don't know how awful the throw was, but it wasn't good to throw that interception to a defender that close to the sideline. I told Willie after the Kansas game (last season) where he made that interception in that game, for a guy of his physical skills, it was a great, great play. The one (Saturday) was even better because that ball was rifled and he had to quickly react."

Richardson said he underestimated Scott — a mistake he hopes future opponents make.

"It's obviously frustrating on my part," Richardson said. "I shouldn't have made that mistake, but it's good and bad. He's an athletic guy that's going to make a lot of plays for us."

THE PICK THAT WASN'T

Jacques Washington nearly recorded the third interception — and second of backup Grant Rohach — but something went awry.

"I made a good break on the ball and had it in my hands," Washington said. "Just got to come down with it, hopefully come down with it on game day."